§ One of the first black Americans to become an actor
§ Went to school in NYC near Park Theatre where he saw many plays
o Inspired him to become an actor
o Met James Wallack who took him to England to work backstage
§ Split from Wallack and got a job at the Coburg Theatre in London
§ 1833: Edmund Kean was forced to retire; Aldridge replaced him as Othello (Turney)